When you make the decision to remodel your home basement, the amount of durable flooring options to consider can be overwhelming, to say the least. What material looks and feels the best without breaking the bank? How can you determine the best flooring for a basement? Well, basements are extremely versatile spaces, and a DIY basement has the potential to become anything from an extra bedroom to an art studio, game room, or even a home fitness center. The possibilities span as far as your imagination (and your budget) will allow. In almost every case, however, the best flooring for a basement will be one of a rubber variety. Rubber basement floors come in many different varieties, ensuring a good match for your home, no matter what you plan to do with your newly remodeled space. Whatever your plans are, your DIY basement will benefit from these core strengths that make rubber the absolute best flooring for a basement.
“Diamond Plate” Roll Rubber Matting
Floor Protection
If you want to preserve your existing floors, the best flooring for a basement should offer an excellent level of protection. Rubber basement floors act as a protective barrier so the concrete, tile, or whatever surface you have below can remain unharmed. This makes rubber the best flooring for a basement that is being used as a home gym or family game room. The rubber absorbs harmful movements such as impacts, abrasions, and even vibration to ensure they cannot damage the sensitive sub-surface. The basement floor cover distributes these movements evenly across its surface and slows them down to greatly reduce the force of impact on the flooring below. This is an important thing to consider if you rent your home or may want to sell it in the future, because any damaged floors will have to be repaired when you move. With only the best flooring for a basement in place, you can rest assured that your delicate sub-floors are safe and protected.
Temperature Control
Another aspect that makes rubber such a popular basement floor cover is its intense temperature resistance. Rubber can not only withstand extreme temperatures both hot and cold, but it has unrivalled insulation capabilities. Basements are infamous for being cold, dank, and dark—all characteristics that your new DIY basement should defy! Since basements are so close to the outdoors, cold exposure can be a tricky problem to fix. The best flooring for a basement is one that is both comfortable for bare feet and comfortable for the entire room. By that, we mean the basement flooring should seal in warmth. Rubber basement floors lock in temperature so the room warms up faster. They also stay at a relatively neutral temperature themselves, so you never have to worry about cold and clammy concrete on your bare feet. No other material offers this level of temperature control, making rubber the best flooring for a basement located in a cold region!
“Diamond-Plate (Metallic)” PVC Flooring Rolls
- Hardness is 75 durometer
- Available in silver or beige
- Diamond-plate mats protect existing flooring
- Easy to clean with more house hold cleaners
Improved Traction: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor, more than 2.9 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the workplace were reported for 2013. Be proactive and make sure your work place is prepared with the extra grip and traction this diamond-plate flooring provides. In addition to the high level of friction PVC offers, the diamond plate pattern on these commercial and industrial floor mats have been uniquely designed and placed to make sure your feet get enough friction to qualify this flooring as anti-slip.
Multiple Applications: Both durable and safe, this mat is a good fit for many facilities. They are most popular in gyms and industrial work places because of their anti-slip and ability to handle heavy foot traffic, but the number of places this flooring can work is endless. Some of the more popular uses for this protective flooring have been for auto shops, trailer mats, and airport runways.
Safety & Slip-Resistance
Rubber also makes for the best flooring for a basement because it is a protective safety surface. Unlike most traditional types of flooring, rubber has a natural level of grip to it. This is because it has a high coefficient of friction, enhancing traction gain even in the presence of moisture. A rubber basement floor cover has a slip-resistant surface, with the aim of preventing falls and consequently, injuries in your new DIY basement. Rubber basement floors also come in a wide range of thicknesses and hardness ratings, so you can pick out the perfect level of safety for your space. Rubber has incredible elasticity, with the ability to provide comfort and soften the impacts of falls. Some types of rubber flooring are even safety tested, with flexible options designed specifically to protect fall victims. This makes rubber the best flooring for a basement that will be used as a home gym, playroom, or family game room, as your family will be able to run, jump, and even fall without worry.
Waterproof Surfacing
While rubber basement flooring is slip-resistant, it is completely waterproof as well! With so many different kinds of rubber flooring available, it is important to note that a solid rubber with a non-porous surface will make the best flooring for a basement. Solid rubber is non-permeable, which means that moisture cannot penetrate the material, and as a result it cannot develop rot, mildew, or mold. This is a vitally important quality for a basement floor cover, as basements are often prone to excessive moisture. This is due to space’s physical closeness to the outdoors. Depending on the geographic location, many homes can experience moisture rising up from the soil below their concrete basement flooring. Sensitive flooring types, such as hardwood, are usually not the best flooring for a basement because they can be damaged or completely destroyed but this unanticipated moisture. Such floorings are also expensive to repair or replace, while durable, rubber basement floors are a much safer choice.
“Shark Tooth II” Heavy-Duty Floor Mat
- Prevent damage to any surface
- A heavy-duty mat designed to handle shocks and impacts
- Perfect for protecting sections of floor that are under heavy equipment
- Can be cleaned with common household cleaners
Protection You Can Trust: This 1/2” thick heavy-duty mat was built to take punishment so your floors don’t have to. The vulcanized rubber this mat is made from protects your gym from falling free weights or heavy workout equipment. This 4 x 6 rubber mat can also protect high traffic areas in a commercial workspace from any hazards, such as dropped pallets or heavy machinery. Whether you’re protecting your floors indoors or outdoors, this mat is perfect for the job.
Prevent Slips and Falls: Safety is always first! This is why the checker-plate design featured on the mat’s surface not only looks sharp and sleek but is functional as well! This pattern, combined with rubber’s natural ability to provide traction, greatly increases the mat’s non-slip qualities.
Customize Your Protection: As a standalone black rubber mat, this product works best when protecting specific portions of floor that see heavy use. Multiple mats can be cut and configured to fit any flooring situation; all you need is a standard utility knife! Whether you need to protect a small corner in your gym or a narrow pathway in the warehouse, the Shark Tooth II mat can help protect your floors in almost any situation.
Cushioning & Comfort
Rubber basement floors come in a wide selection of different thicknesses and hardness ratings. Depending on what kind of room you make out of your DIY basement, you may need a certain degree of elasticity to ensure the best performance. A home gym, for example, requires extremely thick basement flooring with a great deal of elasticity to it. Thick, soft rubber is the best flooring for a basement that plans to take a beating. This is also the best flooring option for an art studio, workshop, or any other space where people will be standing for long periods of time because rubber has anti-fatigue qualities. The material is more forgiving than traditional concrete or hardwood, allowing it to relieve pressure from joints and muscles for optimal comfort.
Do-It-Yourself Installations
Installing rubber flooring is a cost-effective and convenient way to keep your DIY basement, well, do-it-yourself. Other types of flooring require professional installation, which is both expensive and tedious. Of course, an easier and more affordable option would be the best flooring for a basement. Rubber basement floors can be purchased as rolled mats or interlocking tiles, both of which are very easy to install yourself. Rolled mat floorings can be adhered with double-sided carpet tape, while interlocking tiles require no adhesives at all. Not only will you save on costly professional installation services, but you can even employ your family to help with this DIY project. Rubber basement floors can easily turn anyone into an installation expert!
Long-Lasting Floor Covering
Last but certainly not least, the best flooring for a basement must be one that is durable and long-lasting. Why waste time and money on basement flooring that will just have to be replaced in a few years? Rubber flooring is built to last. Although rubber inevitably will wear down from abrasions, floors are thick enough that this will take an extremely long time. With the competitive list of resistances offered by rubber flooring, you can rest assured that your rubber basement floors will take an incredible beating before they give up on you. Regardless of whether you will be using your basement for storage, games, fitness, or even an extra bedroom, the best flooring for a basement will be the same across the board. For unrivalled safety, durability, and long-lasting floor protection, the ideal choice will always be rubber basement floors.
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